Method of making primary batteries



OTTO E. RUHOFF, MADISON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, T FRENCH BATTERY & CARBQN 00., OF MADISON, WISCON SIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

METHOD OF MAKING PRIMARY BATTEREES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 17, 197E251.

No Drawing. Original application filed June 9, 1917, Serial No; 173,880. Divided and this application filed November 9, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Or'ro E. Borrow, a citizen of the United States, residing at Madison, in the county of Dane and State of lVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Methods of Making Primary.

' Batteries, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to galvanic cells in which the carbon electrode is sun rounded by a depolarizing mixture containing pulverized coke or graphite, as shown in many prior patents in the art. The object of this invention is to provide a change in the depolarizing mixture to greatly improve the strength, efiiciency and life of the battery. Broadly speaking, the invention con sists in substituting for a part or all of the ordinary carbonaceous material used in the depolarizing mixture so-called defiocculated electrically conductive material, such for example as the well-known Acheson deflocculated graphite, and in the method or process Parts by weight. Manganese compound 90 Ordinary battery graphite 15 Defiocculated conductive material 3 Sal-ammoniac 12 Water suflicient to moisten the ingredients so that they will pack nicely.

The best electrical results are obtained .when the deflocculated conductive material constitutes approximately 20% of the carbonaceous material of the battery, and th s is also advantageous because it is cheaper than.

- when 100% of defiocculated conductive material is used.

The best results are also obtained when the materials above provided are mixed together by a peculiar method or process. That giving the best results consists in first stirring the defiocculated conductive material in a s'uficient amount of water so as to produce asatisfactory suspension of the de- Serial No. 261,776.

fiocculated conductive material, and adding to this the dry ordinary battery manganese compound. and agitating the mixture thoroughly. some sal ammoniac or similar salt is then added, and the mixture is again well agitated and is then filtered. The solid material is washed and dried. Before drying or after partially drying, asmall quantity of a suitable binding material, such as a gum or sodium silicate may beadded, and pressure may be applied to the material if desired. The dried product is ground and the dry battery graphite and more sal ammoniac is added. The resulting product is moistened with water or a suitable electrolyte in sufficient quantity to make it pack, as heretofore described.

Batteries equipped with the foregoing depolarizing agent, particularly when made by the above method, produce .most satisfactory results not heretofore obtained.

As is well understood by engineers, defiocculated. materials are entirely difi'erent from the same materials when reduced to a line state of division by ordinary processes of comminution, such as any ordinary method of grinding with or without air flo- V tation, even when carried so far as to produce the so-called impalpable material employed in batteries of certain prior patents.

The defiocculated material referred to in the specification and claims s different from any other heretofore used in batteries in the following particulars: In the first place,

this deflocculated material can be used only in the form of a dilute solution which is mixed with otherbattery ingredients, whereas other conductive material, such as carbon, graphite or lamp black are all used in the dry form. In the second place, other forms of conductive material, as covered by various patents usually constitute the whole amount of carbonaceous material that is present in the batteries, and work best when present to the extent of 100% of the conduce tive material used in the battery. This is not true with the deflocculated materials referred to herein, for, if such deflocculated materials are used alone, without the presence of any other conductive. material, a

, decidedly inferior battery results. The best effect is obtained when the defiocculated material constitutes about 20% lo weight of the total conductive material which is used.

This application is a division of my application for primary battery, Serial Number 173 680, filed June 9th, 1917.

I-laving thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1.- A method of mixing battery material consisting'in first stirring deflocculated conductive material in a suflicient amount of water so as to produce a satisfactory suspension of the deflocculated conductive material adding to this a manganese compoun and agitating the mixture thoroughly, adding some sal ammoniac or similar salt, agitating and filtering the mixture washing and drying the solid material; adding a small quantity of a suitable binding material, such as a gum or sodium silicate before drying or after partially drying; grinding the dried product and adding more carbonaceous conductive material and sal ammoniac; and finally moistening the resulting product Withfa liquid in suificient quantity to make it pack, as described.

2. A method of mixin battery material comprising: stirring de occulated conductive material in a flfiiqient amount of water so as to produce a satisfactory suspension of the deflocculated conductive material; add;

ing to this a manganese compound, and agi tating the mixture thoroughly; adding sal ammoniac or similar salt and agitating the mixture well, and then filtering and washing the material. 1 1

3. A method of mixin battery material comprising: stirring de occulated conductive material in water in such manner as to produce a satisfactory suspension of the conductive material; adding to this a manganese compound and agitating the mixture thoroughly; adding sal ammoniac or similar salt and agitating the mixture Well, and then filteringthe mixture; drying and compacting the material; and grinding the product and mixing therewith more carbonaceous conductive material and sal ammoniac.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

OTTO E. RUHOFF.

Witnesses: v

DWIGHT B. OHEEVEB,

M. S. Rosnnzwmoi 

